How to get a DBS check for childcare work — the plain-English guide

If “you’ll need a DBS” made your heart sink, relax. Here’s exactly what it is, what it costs, and how to get one — no jargon.

Every job working with children needs one, and if you’ve never come across a DBS before, it can feel like a hurdle before you’ve even started. It isn’t. It’s a standard background check, it’s straightforward to get, and this guide walks you through the whole thing.

What is a DBS check?

DBS stands for the Disclosure and Barring Service. A DBS check is simply a criminal-record check — it’s how a nursery knows that everyone working with their children is safe to be there. It’s completely normal, everyone in childcare has one, and it’s nothing to be nervous about.

For nursery work you need the most thorough level: an enhanced DBS check with a children’s barred list check. That’s the standard for anyone working with children, and it’s a legal requirement — so it’s the one you’ll be getting.

Good news: the rules changed in 2026

Here’s something worth knowing, because it used to be a real barrier. Until recently, you couldn’t apply for an enhanced DBS check yourself — only an employer or organisation could request one for you. As of January 2026, that’s changed: if you’re working in a self-employed capacity — which is how flexible bank work usually runs — you can now arrange your own enhanced check. That means your DBS is yours: it’s not tied to one nursery, and you can take it with you wherever you work.

How to get your DBS: the steps

Because you’ll be working flexibly rather than as an employee, you arrange your own enhanced DBS check — and thanks to the 2026 change, you can. Here’s how it works, step by step:

Once you’ve got your certificate, you show it to Kalendit and to the nurseries you work with — it’s yours, it travels with you, and if you keep it on the Update Service you won’t have to start from scratch every time.

What you’ll need to have ready

Whichever route you take, the check needs a few things from you. Getting these together in advance makes it quick:

• Proof of identity — usually a passport, or other ID documents
• Your addresses for the last 5 years
• Your National Insurance number

Most delays happen because of small mistakes on the form, so it’s worth taking your time and double-checking the details before it’s submitted.

Already have a DBS?

If you’ve done childcare work before and already have an enhanced DBS, you might not need a new one — as long as you’re signed up to the DBS Update Service. That’s a service that keeps your certificate current so it can be reused for new roles, which saves you time and money. It costs £16 a year, and it’s well worth having if you plan to keep working in childcare.

Not sure what applies to you?

If you’re unsure which level of check you need, the official GOV.UK tool explains it clearly: find out which DBS check you need. And if you’re joining Kalendit, just ask us — we do this every day and we’re happy to talk it through.

This guide is general information to help you understand the process, not formal or legal advice. DBS rules and fees can change — always check the latest on GOV.UK. Correct as of July 2026.